DePauw University has evolved its unique Winter Term to focus more on experiential learning opportunities both on campus and around the world. Students can now receive course credit for on-campus courses covering topics like EMT training as well as off-campus programs involving service work in countries like El Salvador, academic trips to study filmmaking in Italy, and internships in the local community. The university aims to strengthen community partnerships and provide students experiences that prepare them for careers or further education after graduating from DePauw.

1. DePauwstudents engagein Greencastleandbeyond
Friday, January 16, 2015
By Brock Turner, News Intern
DePauw University students(fromright to left)CarolynJedd, Anna Maria Fenoglio, Mary Ann
Etling and Grant Pottsinteract with children in South Africa.
The month of January has evolvedat DePauw University. Gone are the days when Winter Term
involvedtravelingto tropicalvacationdestinations and posing with "Marvinsdeliversto..." signs.
The unique term, cited as a main reason many students attend the university, has seen many changes
over the years. Currently, studentsare engaged on-campus, in Putnam County communities and
around the globe.
On campus, students busy themselvesin a plethoraof coursesranging from an EMT course to a
course focusingon energy and infrared light. A change this term frompast terms lies in the number
of coursesoffering credit. DePauw's Dean of ExperientialLearning, Raj Bellani pointed to this
increase as a step forward.
"We're adding course credit. That'sa huge win for our community," Bellani said.
For the first time in the university'shistory, graduation-requiredcourse credit as well as extended
studies credit can be completedin the same course.
"Our students don't want fluff," he said. "We're strengthening Winter Term."

2. On-campus coursesaren't the only evolutionsDePauw's unique term has seen. The university has
placed an emphasis on financial aid for off-campus courses. Bellani wants all students, regardless of
their financial situation, to have accessto off-campuscourses.
Those coursescan range from service-basedtripsto El Salvador and Ecuador to academic trips
abroad.
"Academic coursesare also going to South Africa, Japan studying how technology and culture
intersect. There'sa group that will be studying filmmaking in Italy," said Mandy BrooksBlinn,
DePauw's Director of Off-Campus Programs. "So, there's a wide range of options for students who
are interested in going off campus."
DePauw also offersstudents the optionto build career skills. Students have been placedat the
Humane Society, Cummins BehavioralHealth and the Banner Graphic.
"It's nice to have young people around. They give us a lot of insight, they're super helpful," Sandra
Grimes said of her DePauw interns at the Humane Society of Putnam County.
The university has placedmore of a focuson involvingand engaging the students with local
communities. DePauw has partnered with the Putnam County Hospital and Operation Life to offer
an EMT course.
"When Operation Life started, (it) startedwith DePauw students," said Kraig Kinney one of the
class's professorssince 1995. "It should be the same curriculumwhether you're in Indianapolis,
Evansville or even another state.
"Part of the challenge of this course is that we have to squeeze in a minimum number of hours."
Required hourscan stretchup to 200 in just three weeks. Students also must complete two hospital
shifts and two 12-hour shifts aboard an Operation Life ambulance.
"We want them exposed, they have to have at least 10 patient contacts," Kinney said.
Although the course is both challenging and time consuming, Kinney believesit preparesstudents
for life after DePauw.
"Thisclass is great for the students that are doing pre-med," he said. "It is a first time exposure to
patient assessment, and dealing with real life patients."
Beyondthe EMT course, localattorney and recent DePauw graduate Eddie Felling wants to help
students considering law school. "I knew what it was like to be in a DePauw student's shoes," he said.
A wide range of students spanning from first-yearsmerely exploringthe idea of law schoolto seniors
working on their applications are enrolled. Felling wants to help all students.
"DePauw was nothing like my experience at law school. It's fun to see students who are excitedabout
going to law school," he said.
DePauw hopes to bring more excitement to Winter Term. The evolutionsand community
involvement are aspects Christine Munn, coordinator of employee relationsat DePauw, is excitedto
see develop.

3. "We force (students) to do experientiallearning," Munn said. "Applying(what students are learning
in the classroom)in the real world and seeing it happen. That'sreally important to liberal arts
schools. That'sreal world learning."
Comments
Note: The nature of the Internet makes it impracticalfor our staff toreview every comment. If y ou feel that a
comment is offensive,please Login or Createan account first,and then you willbe able toflag a comment as
objectionable.Please alsonote that those whopost comments on bannergraphic.com may do so using a screen name,
which may or may not reflect a website user's actualname.Readers should be carefulnot toassign comments toreal
people whomay have names similar toscreen names. Refrain from obscenity in your comments,and tokeep
discussions civil, don't say anything in a way your grandmother would be ashamed toread.
While at DePauw I was a Spanish major. I spent 2 winter terms in Spain in 1974 and1976. It gave me
the opportunity to really learn the Spanish language and live the Spanish culture. It just doesn't seem
that long ago, though.
-- Postedby donantonioelsabio on Thu, Jan 15, 2015, at 11:49PM